25.A lot of people would have given up at this point, but not Alex Kelly. She goes to find that wet fish Ryan to fight for her girlfriend.

26.But the damage has been done. Alex visits Marissa at her school's bonfire and the breaking up commences.

27."A Smile That Explodes" by Joseph Arthur plays and the lyrics sink right into your heart until you're still thinking about them in your late twenties.

"I'd hold you in my armsUntil we came back downA smile that explodesI could never understand

I write one moreLetter I won't sendExcept for across the floor."

28.Alex reveals she's going to leave Newport.

FOX

The writers had her return home to her parents and go back to school which is way too boring and hetronormative for the Alex we've come to know and love. In my mind she's off to become the tour manager for a feminist punk band where she falls in love with the lead singer and writes a bestselling poetry anthology based on her many adventures on the road.

29.This pretty abrupt end to Alex Kelly's storyline may have had a bit to do with The OC's creator Josh Schwartz who didn't want the show to become too political.

In the DVD commentary for the episode “Rainy Day Women” Schwartz says: “I think the Alex/Marissa storyline truthfully was built so Seth could say: ‘You broke up with me for Marissa’ as much as I’d like to say we were advancing the perception of bi-sexual relationships in the twenty-first century.”

Right OK.

30.But fuck that guy, Olivia Wilde has come out and said some wonderful things about playing Alex.